Boiler Tube Clamp and Method of Using Same

ABSTRACT

A boiler tube clamp including a first portion having a first substantially U-shaped midsection with a first inner surface configured for receiving and pressing against one side of a boiler tube, a first hinge member arranged on one end of the first midsection, and a threaded bolt hingedly attached to the other end of the first midsection, and a second portion having a second substantially U-shaped midsection with a second inner surface configured for receiving and pressing against the other side of the boiler tube. The clamp further includes a second hinge member arranged on one end of the second midsection and hingedly connected to the first hinge member so that the first inner surface and the second inner surface close toward one another. An open slot is arranged at the other end of the second midsection configured for detachably receiving the threaded bolt. A lip extends radially out from an outer surface of the second midsection and arranged adjacent to an edge thereof. A jackscrew extends through the lip for adjusting the distance a boiler tube contained by the clamp extends into a boiler through a boiler header.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 12/575,227, filed on Oct. 7, 2009, titled, “BoilerTube Clamp and Method for Using Same”, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a boiler tube clamp. More particularly,the invention relates to a clamp used for installing vertically arrangedboiler tubes in a boiler header or drum of a conventional boiler.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

When installing boiler tubes, it is necessary that relatively long andheavy boiler tubes be lifted and oriented in a generally verticalposition especially when replacing boiler tubes. An extra large devicefor installing boiler tubes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,276,which is directed to a boiler tube gripper including a pair of pivotallyconnected members for lifting and positioning boiler tubes vertically.Each of the members is generally hook-shaped and provided with agenerally semi-cylindrical inner surface to form a cylindrical openingwhen the pivotal members are pivoted to a closed position. In the closedpositioned, the members encircle a boiler tube or pipe. A lift elementis connected to one of the pivotal members at the periphery thereof totilt the closed gripper which causes the diametrically opposed upper andlower edges of the closed gripper to engage the adjacent and remotesurfaces of a boiler tube or pipe being gripped while being lifted andhandled. The free ends of the pivotal members have a pin securing themin closed position with the pin being tethered to retain it inaccessible position with the tether also serving to effectively releasethe pivotal members by pivoting one of the members toward open position.A lateral opening on one of the pivotal member enables assemblylaterally onto the boiler tube with the other pivotal member then beingsimply pivoted into closed position and the pin inserted to secure thegripper to the tube or pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a boiler tube clamp for verticallyarranging and installing a boiler tube in a boiler header or drum. Inone aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamp including a firstportion having a first substantially U-shaped midsection with a firstinner surface configured for receiving and pressing against one side ofthe boiler tube. A first hinge member is connected to one end of thefirst midsection and a threaded bolt is hingedly attached to the otherend of the first midsection. The clamp further includes a second portionhaving a second substantially U-shaped midsection with a second innersurface configured for receiving and pressing against the other side ofthe boiler tube. A second hinge member is connected to one end of thesecond midsection and hingedly connected to the first hinge member sothat the first inner surface and the second inner surface close towardone another. An open slot is formed within the other end of the secondmidsection for detachably receiving the threaded bolt. A nut is used tothe tighten the bolt to the slot for maintaining the clamp in a closedposition about a boiler tube.

In use, the clamp is immobily and detachably secured to the boiler tubein the closed position and situated on top of the boiler header with theboiler tube extending a desired distance beyond a bottom side or insidesurface of the boiler header. The substantially U-shaped midsections ofthe first and second portion close about the boiler tube forming acylinder-like structure that snuggly secures the boiler tube therein.The desired distance is preferably not less than ¼ inch and no more than¾ inch. To adjust the position of the clamp relative to a boiler headerwhen the desired distance is not initially achieved, a lip can beprovided that extends radially out from an outer surface of the secondmidsection adjacent to an edge thereof. The lip serves as a pointagainst which the clamp can be pried away and lifted from a surface ofthe boiler header using a pry bar. Alternatively, the clamp can includea jackscrew that can be positioned to extend between a top of the boilerheader and the lip of the clamp. To obtain the desired distance, thescrew is rotated thereby either lifting or lowering the boiler tube.Once the boiler tube extends through the boiler head the desireddistance, the boiler tube is fixed to the boiler header usingconventional means, and the clamp is pivoted into an opened position andremoved from about the boiler tube.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof installing a boiler tube in a boiler header or drum. The methodincludes providing a clamp having a first substantially U-shaped portionhingedly coupled to a second substantially U-shaped portion, pivotingthe first portion and the second portion into an opened position andinserting the boiler tube between the first portion and the secondportion. Thereafter, the first portion and the second portion arepivoted into a closed position about a predetermined location of theboiler tube thus detachably and immobily securing the clamp to thepredetermined location. In the closed position, the clamp is adapted forsupporting the boiler tube in a vertical arrangement without the boilertube moving relative to the clamp. Once the clamp is fixed to the boilertube, the boiler tube is vertically arranged and then inserted into anopening through a topside of the boiler header until the boiler clampcontacts or is supported on top of the boiler header. At this point, theboiler tube extends into the boiler header a distance. To obtain adesired distance, a jackscrew is coupled between the clamp and theboiler header which can be rotated to either increase or decrease thedistance. Alternatively, a pry bar can be inserted between a radial lipon an exterior portion of the clamp and the boiler header which is usedto pry the clamp away from the boiler header thus decreasing thedistance the boiler tube extends beyond the bottom side or insidesurface of the boiler header.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of installing a single boiler tube in a boiler header or drum.The method includes detachably securing the boiler tube clamp to apredetermined location on a lower end of the single boiler tube,arranging the single boiler tube vertically, extending the lower end ofthe single boiler tube through a topside the boiler header to a distancebeyond a bottom side or inside surface of the boiler header, andsupporting the boiler clamp on the topside of the boiler header. Agrasping portion of the boiler tube clamp can be raised or loweredrelative to the topside of the boiler header by manipulating anadjustment member that is rotatably coupled to the grasping portion ofthe clamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boiler tube clamp in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the boiler tube clamp of FIG. 1 in anopen configuration.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the clamp of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the clamp of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the clamp of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 1 inserted into aboiler header.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the clamp and boiler header of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the clamp of FIG. 6 being lifted using apry bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 5 depict a metal boiler tube clamp 10 in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6 through 8depict boiler tube clamp 10 inserted into a boiler header 12 or drum ofa conventional boiler. Generally, boiler tube clamp 10 is made up of afirst portion 14 configured for receiving and pressing against a side ofa boiler tube 18 hingedly coupled to a second portion 20 configured forreceiving and pressing against another side of boiler tube 18. A radiallip 24 extends outwardly from second portion 24 and contains a jackscrew26 for adjusting the distance boiler tube 18 extends through boilerheader 12.

More particularly, referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, first portion 14 ofclamp 10 includes a U-shaped midsection having an inner surface 28, anexterior surface, a locking end 32 and a pivot end 34. Inner surface 28is shaped and sized to receive and press securely against boiler tube 18when clamp 10 is in a closed position. Thus, inner surface 28 has aradius and partially defines a circumference between locking end 32 andpivot end 34 that are complimentary to the radius and circumference ofboiler tube 18. Extending outwardly from and essentially perpendicularto the exterior surface of first portion 14 at pivot end 34 is an arm 36having an opening there through for receiving a pivot pin 40. Arm 36 andthe opening there through are provided for hingedly coupling firstportion 14 and second portion 20 with the aid of pin 40.

Similar to first portion 14, second portion includes a U-shapedmidsection having an inner surface 46, an exterior surface, a pivot end50 and a locking end 51. Further, inner surface 46 of second portion 20is shaped and sized to receive and press securely against boiler tube 18when clamp 10 is in a closed position, and therefore, it has a radiusand partially defines a circumference that are complimentary to theradius and the circumference of boiler tube 18. When closed against oneanother, first portion 14, and second portion 20 form a cylinder adaptedto securely and immobily receive boiler tube 18.

Pivot end 50 of second portion 20 is also similar to pivot end 34 offirst portion 14 in that pivot end 50 includes an arm 52 having anopening there through. The opening through arm 36 of first portion 14and the opening through arm 52 of second portion 20 are arranged to bealigned and to receive pivot pin 40 about which first portion 14 andsecond portion 20 can rotate between the closed position for containingboiler tube 18 and an open position for receiving and releasing tube 18.Extending along a plane formed by arm 52 and opposite thereto is atruss-supported rectangular plate 42 having an elongated open slot 44.Slot 44 is arranged along locking end 51 to open away from pivot end 50of second portion 20.

Second portion 20 further includes the flat, U-shaped radial lip 24 thatextends radially out from the exterior surface thereof a short distanceand adjacent to a lower edge 70 of the midsection of second portion 20.As depicted in FIG. 2, lip 24 originates from pivot end 50, adjacent toarm 52, and extends partially around the exterior surface of secondportion 20. A threaded hole 72 is provided through a central portion oflip 24 which is adapted to receive jackscrew 26. Jackscrew 26 isarranged so that the hexagonal head 76 of the jackscrew is positionedopposite lower edge 70 relative to lip 24.

To maintain clamp 10 in the closed position, opposite to pivot end 34 offirst portion 14, a pair of arms 56 are provided which extendessentially perpendicular and out from the exterior surface of themidsection of first portion 14. At the end of each of arms 56 areopenings which are aligned and adapted to receive a T-shaped, rotatablelocking bolt 60. Locking bolt 60 includes a pivot piece 62 that extendsthrough and between the aligned openings in arms 56 and a threadedportion 64 extending perpendicular to pivot portion 62 between arms 56.To secure clamp 10 in the closed position, first portion 14 and secondportion 20 are pivoted toward one other about pivot pin 40 from theopened position, with inner surface 28 opening toward inner surface 46to form a cylinder, until plate 42 comes into contact with arms 56.Thereafter, locking bolt 60 is pivoted about pivot piece 62 in thealigned openings of arms 56 until threaded portion 64 is positionedwithin slot 44 of plate 42. Plate 42 is pressed and secured against arms56 by tightening a nut 66 onto threaded portion 64. In the closedposition, clamp 10 is secured to boiler tube 18 well enough that whentube 18 is oriented vertically, clamp 10 can immobily hold tube 18between inner surfaces 28 and 48 without boiler tube 18 sliding therebetween.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in use, clamp 10 is detachably secured inthe closed position to boiler tube 18 at a predetermined location alongthe tube. The location is based upon the desired distance boiler tube 18is to extend out of a bottom side 78 of boiler header 12. Preferably,the distance is not less than ¼ inch and no more than ¾ inch beyond abottom side 78 of boiler header 12. Thus, the predetermined location ismeasured from a lower end 80 of boiler tube 18 and is based upon thepreferred distance, i.e., not less than ¼ inch and no more than ¾ inch,plus the thickness of boiler header 12 or the length of aperture 82through boiler header 12. Clamp 10 is oriented about boiler tube 18 withlower edge 70 of second portion 20 aligned with the predeterminedlocation. This way, the length of boiler tube 18 extending beyond loweredge 70 is equal to the preferred distance, i.e., not less than ¼ inchand no more than ¾ inch, plus the thickness of boiler header 12 or thelength of aperture 82 through boiler header 12.

With clamp 10 securely coupled about boiler tube 18, the tube isarranged vertically above a topside 84 of boiler head 12 and alignedwith aperture 82. Lower end 80 of boiler tube 18 is then lowered intoaperture 82 until either lower edge 70 of second portion 20 or aterminus 86 of jackscrew 26 comes into contact with topside 84 therebyarresting further lowering of tube 18 into aperture 82. Thereafter, thedistance that boiler tube 18 extends beyond bottom side 78 of boilerheader is measured. In the event the distance is too great or too small,boiler tube 18 can be raised or lowered by rotating jackscrew 26 withinthreaded hole 72 of lip 24. When the distance is too great, jackscrew 26is rotated so that the length thereof between lip 24 and topside 84 ofboiler header 12 is increased thus lifting boiler tube 18 relative totopside 84. On the other hand, if the distance is too small, jackscrew26 is rotated in the opposite direction so that the distance between lip24 and topside 84 of boiler header 12 is decreased thus lowering boilertube 18 relative to topside 84.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is depicted an alternative method of liftingboiler tube 18 for ensuring that boiler tube 18 extends out of bottomside 78 of boiler header 12 the desired distance, for example, ifjackscrew 26 is absent or too short. According to the alternativemethod, in the event the distance is too great, boiler tube 18 can beraised by inserting a pry bar 88 between lip 24 and topside 84 of boilerheader 12 and manually pressing down on the pry bar at an end of the prybar opposite to lip 24. Once boiler tube 18 is lifted to the desiredheight above topside 84, blocks or the like can be placed under lip 24to maintain the desired height and distance the tube extends beyond thebottom side of boiler header 12. Thereafter, pry bar 88 can be removed.

Once boiler tube 18 is positioned at the desired distance, the tube isfixed in place using conventional means. Thereafter, nut 66 is loosenedabout threaded portion 64 of locking bolt 60, bolt 60 is pivoted out ofslot 44 and first portion 14 is pivoted away from second portion 20placing clamp 10 in a open position so that it can be removed from aboutboiler tube 18.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications canbe made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Suchmodifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form apart of the present invention and are embraced by the claims below.

It is claimed:
 1. A method of installing a boiler tube in a boilerheader comprising, providing a clamp having a first portion, a secondportion pivotably coupled to the first portion, and a lip extendingoutwardly from the first portion, the first portion and the secondportion each including a substantially U-shaped surface, pivoting thefirst portion and the second portion into a closed position about apredetermined location about a boiler tube, inserting the boiler tubeinto an opening through the boiler header, and supporting the boilerclamp and boiler tube on the boiler header, and adjusting a distance theboiler tube is inserted into the boiler header by raising or loweringthe lip.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the lip is raised orlowered by turning a screw that extends to and between the lip and theboiler header.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein, when theclamp is in the closed position, the boiler tube is fixed between firstand second portion.
 4. The method according to claim 1 furthercomprising adjusting a distance the boiler tube extends beyond a bottomside of the boiler header by manipulating a jackscrew extending parallelto the boiler tube.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein theboiler clamp is supported on the boiler header by resting a lower edgeof the first portion on the boiler header.
 6. The method according toclaim 1 wherein the boiler clamp is supported on the boiler header byresting the lip on the boiler header.
 7. The method according to claim 1further comprising fixing the boiler tube to the boiler header, followedby removing the clamp from the boiler tube.
 8. The method according toclaim 1 further comprising adjusting a distance the boiler tube extendsbeyond a bottom side of the boiler header without moving any portion ofthe clamp relative to the boiler tube.
 9. A method of installing aboiler tube in a boiler header comprising, providing a boiler clampapparatus having a first portion and a second portion pivotably coupledto the first portion, pivoting the first portion and the second portioninto a closed position about a predetermined location about a boilertube, inserting the boiler tube into an opening through the boilerheader, supporting the boiler clamp apparatus and boiler tube on theboiler header, and adjusting a distance the boiler tube is inserted intothe boiler header by raising or lowering the entire boiler clampapparatus.
 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the first portionand the second portion include substantially U-shaped surfaces incontact with the boiler tube.
 11. The method according to claim 10wherein the first portion includes a lip having an opening there through12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising turning a screwwithin the opening.
 13. The method according to claim 12 wherein turningthe screw changes the distance between the clamp and the boiler header.14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising fixing theboiler tube within the boiler header, followed by removing the boilerclamp apparatus from the boiler tube.
 15. A method of installing aboiler tube in a boiler header comprising, pivoting a first clampportion and a second clamp portion into a closed position about apredetermined location about a boiler tube, inserting the boiler tubeinto an opening through the boiler header, supporting the boiler clampapparatus and boiler tube on the boiler header, and adjusting a distancethe boiler tube is inserted into the boiler header by adjusting ajackscrew coupled to the first clamp portion.
 16. The method accordingto claim 15 further comprising contacting a substantially U-shapedportion of the first clamp portion and a substantially U-shaped portionof the second clamp portion to the boiler tube.
 17. The method accordingto claim 16 wherein the jackscrew extends through a radial lip of thefirst clamp portion.
 18. The method according to claim 17 furthercomprising welding the boiler tube to the boiler header and thereafterremoving the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion from theboiler tube.
 19. The method according to claim 18 further comprisinglowering the boiler tube into the boiler header by adjusting thejackscrew.
 20. The method according to claim 19 further comprisingraising the boiler tube relative to the boiler header by adjusting thejackscrew.